Programmable user plane function

ABSTRACT

A device can receive, at a user plane function (UPF), a set of rules for managing a communications session. The set of rules can include a set of mobility management rules and a set of packet processing rules. The device can store the set of mobility management rules and the set of packet processing rules at the UPF. At a control plane of the UPF, the device can perform an analysis of a flow of one or more packets transmitted during the communications session. At run-time, and based on the analysis, the device can generate a modified set of packet processing rules from the stored set of packet processing rules. The device can receive a packet of the flow, apply the modified set of packet processing rules to the received packet, and forward the received packet and update the modified set of packet processing rules.

BACKGROUND

5G/New Radio (5G/NR) provides various enhancements to wirelesscommunications, such as slicing, flexible bandwidth allocation, improvedspectral efficiency, ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC),beamforming, high-frequency communication (e.g., millimeter wave(mmWave)), and/or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1C are diagrams of an overview of an example implementationdescribed herein.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example functional architecture of an examplecore network described herein.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example environment in which systems, functionarchitectures, and/or methods, described herein, can be implemented.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of example components of one or more devices ofFIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an example process for a programmable userplane function.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description of example implementations refers tothe accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in differentdrawings can identify the same or similar elements.

In a wireless telecommunications system, such as a 5G wirelesstelecommunications network, a user plane function (UPF) can process oneor more packets by applying a set of rules to the one or more packetsduring a communications session. In some instances, the network operatorcan define the set of rules prior to setup of the communications sessionso that the rules can be applied to the one or more packets transmittedduring the communications session in a static way. However, applying theset of rules in a static way can result in inefficient processing ofsome types of packets. Moreover, if the network operator wants to modifythe set of rules, the network operator usually has to make the changesoffline (i.e., after the communications session has ended and/or beforeanother communications session is initiated) by incorporating thechanges into a new software release and installing the new softwarerelease on devices of the wireless telecommunications network.

Some implementations, described herein, provide a wirelesstelecommunications system architecture capable of dynamically processingpackets through the use of UPF programming. In some implementations, thewireless telecommunications system can include a core network thatincludes a UPF having a control plane and a user plane. The UPF canreceive, at the UPF, a set of rules for managing a communicationssession. The received set of rules can include a set of mobilitymanagement rules and a set of packet processing rules. The set ofmobility management rules can define, for example, how continuity of acommunications session is to be maintained. The UPF can store the set ofmobility management rules at the UPF and store the set of packetprocessing rules at the user plane. The set of packet processing rulescan define, for example, the types of processing that is to be appliedto packets transmitted during the communications session.

The UPF can perform, at the control plane of the UPF, an analysis of aflow of one or more packets transmitted during the communicationssession. The UPF can generate, at run-time and based on the analysis ofthe flow, a modified set of packet processing rules from the stored setof packet processing rules, and store the modified set of packetprocessing rules at the user plane. In this way, the UPF can receive, atthe UPF, a packet of the flow of the one or more packets, apply themodified set of packet processing rules to the received packet, andforward the received packet after applying the modified set of packetprocessing rules to the received packet. This allows the networkoperator to make rule changes at run-time (e.g., at the start of acommunications session, mid-session of a communications session, anytime within a communications session, and/or the like) as opposed tomaking rule changes in a software update to the core network betweencommunications sessions and/or during network maintenance. Moreover,making modifications at run-time allows the UPF to apply sets of packetprocessing rules tailored to specific types of packets, which can resultin lower network latency, more efficient packet routing, increasednetwork reliability, increased quality of service, faster encryption anddecryption of packets, and the like.

FIGS. 1A-1C are diagrams of an overview of an example implementation 100described herein. Example implementation 100 illustrates variousportions of a wireless telecommunications system, which in someimplementations can be a 5G wireless telecommunications system. However,examples illustrated herein can be adapted for use in a 4G wirelesstelecommunications system, a long term evolution (LTE) wirelesstelecommunications system (e.g., a Packet Gateway (P-GW) and/or thelike), a LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) wireless telecommunications system, and/orthe like.

As shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, example implementation 100 can include a userequipment (UE) wirelessly connected to a base station, which isconnected to a data network via a core network. The UE can includevarious devices, such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet, acomputer, an Internet of things (IoT) device, or another other type ofdevice capable of wireless communications.

The base station can include various types of base stations, such as a5G next generation NodeB (gNodeB or gNB), a LTE evolved NodeB (eNodeB oreNB), and/or the like. In some implementations, the base station can beincorporated into a radio access network (RAN) of the wirelesstelecommunications system.

The core network can include various types of telecommunications corenetworks, such as a 5G next generation core network (NG Core), a LTEevolved packet core (EPC), and/or the like. In some implementations, thecore network can include a policy control function (PCF) component, asession management function (SMF) component, and a user plane function(UPF) component, as well as other components and functions. The PCFcomponent can store a set of rules defined by a network operator of thewireless telecommunications network. The set of rules can be used by theUPF component to process packets transmitted through the wirelesstelecommunications system. The SMF component can establish, modify,and/or release communications sessions in the wirelesstelecommunications system.

The UPF component can include a control plane, a user plane, and avirtual user plane function (vUPF), as well as other elements. Asdescribed above, the control plane can modify a set of packet processingrules stored in the user plane and store the modified set of packetprocessing rules in the user plane. As described above, the user planecan apply packet processing rules to packets transmitted through thewireless telecommunications system. The vUPF can be a virtualizedsoftware container (e.g., a Docker container or another type of softwarecontainer) that is isolated from the other elements of the UPF. Asstated above, the UPF component can apply rules to process packetstransmitted through the wireless telecommunications system.

The data network can include various types of data networks, such as theInternet, a third party services network, an operator services network,a private network, a wide area network, and/or the like.

Turning now to FIG. 1A, assume that the UE is instructed to communicateover the wireless telecommunications system. In this case, and as shownby reference number 102, the UE can request the establishment of acommunications session. For example, the UE can be instructed tocommunicate with an applications server communicatively connected to thedata network. To do so, the UE can send a request to the core network toestablish a communications session between the UE and the applicationserver. Based on receiving the request, the SMF component can set up acommunications session between the UE and the applications server.

At reference number 104, as part of setting up the communicationssession, the SMF component can obtain a set of rules from the PCFcomponent, and provide the set of rules to the UPF component. The UPFcomponent can receive the set of rules and use the set of rules tomanage the communications session. The received set of rules can includea set of mobility management rules and a set of packet processing rules.The set of mobility management rules can include a service continuityrule (e.g., a rule that controls how packets are handled when aninternet protocol (IP) address and/or an anchoring point changes duringa communications session), a session continuity rule (e.g., a rule thatcontrols how communications sessions are maintained as participants inthe communications session geographically move throughout the wirelesstelecommunications system), and/or the like. The set of packetprocessing rules can include rules, such as a forwarding action rule(e.g., a rule that controls how a packet is forwarded), a usagereporting rule (e.g., a rule that collects statistics regarding packetsforwarded for the communications session), a packet detection rule(e.g., a rule that controls how packets are detected or processed), aquality of service (QoS) enforcement rule (e.g., a rule that controlshow a packet is processed or prioritized), and/or the like.

As shown by reference number 106, the UPF component can store the set ofmobility management rules in the vUPF. In this way, the set of mobilitymanagement rules can be stored in the vUPF so that the set of mobilitymanagement rules can remain static and unmodified. This ensures that theset of mobility management rules can be applied during thecommunications session in a consistent manner.

As shown by reference number 108, the UPF component can also store theset of packet processing rules in the user plane. The control plane andthe user plane of the UPF component can be included in a programmablespace of the UPF component. This allows the control plane and the userplane of the UPF to be programmed via a programming language, such as aprogramming language for packet forwarding applications (e.g., the P4programming language and/or the like). The control plane can beprogrammed to perform various functions, such as analyzing a flow of oneor more packets transmitted during the communications session, modifyingthe set of packet processing rules stored in the user plane, and/or thelike. The user plane can be programmed by the control plane. That is,the control plane can program the user plane to apply the modified setof packet processing rules to packets transmitted during thecommunications session.

As shown in FIG. 1B, and by reference number 110, once thecommunications session is set up, and the set of mobility managementrules and the set of packet processing rules have each been stored, theUE can transmit a flow of one or more packets through the wirelesstelecommunications system during the communications session. A “flow”can be defined as one or more packets transmitted between a particularsource and a particular designation during a communications session. Forexample, the communications session can include a connection between theUE and an application server. The UE and the application server each canbe assigned a respective IP address. If the UE transmits one or morepackets to the application server during the communications session, thetransmission of the one or more packets to the application server duringthe communications session can be considered a flow. Moreover, if theapplication server transmits one or more packets to the UE during thecommunications session, the transmission of the one or more packets tothe UE during the communications session can be considered another flow.In some implementations, packets transmitted in either direction betweenthe UE and the application server during a communications (i.e., packetstransmitted from the UE to the applications server and packetstransmitted from the application server to the UE) can be considered aflow.

As shown by reference number 112, the control plane of the UPF componentcan be programmed to analyze the flow of the one or more packetstransmitted during the communications session. In some implementations,the control plane can analyze the flow of the one or more packets byanalyzing one or more properties associated with the flow. The one ormore properties associated with the flow can include a source IPaddress, a destination IP address, a source port identifier, adestination port identifier, a protocol identifier, a flow type (e.g., aflow of one or more voice packets, a flow of one or more applicationpackets, and/or the like), a type of application, a type of service, atype of application programming interface (API), and/or the like.Continuing with the example above involving the UE and the applicationserver, the flow of the one or more packets being transmitted by the UEto the application server can have a source IP address corresponding tothe UE's IP address, a destination IP address corresponding to theapplication server's IP address, a source port identifier correspondingto a source port for the flow, a destination port identifiercorresponding to a destination port for the flow, a protocol identifiercorresponding to a protocol used for communication of the flow, anapplication flow type (e.g., if the flow is associated with anapplication), a video streaming application type (e.g., if the one ormore packets in the flow are associated with a video streamingapplication), and/or the like.

The control plane can use various analysis techniques to analyze the oneor more properties, such as header inspection (e.g., reading headers ofthe one or more packets in the flow to determine a source IP address, adestination IP address, a source port identifier, a destination portidentifier, a protocol identifier, and/or the like, associated with theflow), deep packet inspection (e.g., analyzing the data beingtransmitted in the one or more packets of the flow to determine anapplication type), string matching (e.g., identifying patterns in aportion of the one or more packets in the flow to identify properties ofthe overall flow), and/or the like.

As shown by reference number 114, based on the analysis of the flow ofthe one or more packets, the control plane can modify the set of packetprocessing rules stored in the user plane and store the modified set ofpacket processing rules in the user plane. In some implementations, thecontrol plane can modify the stored set of packet processing rules bychanging one or more rules in the stored set of packet processing rules,adding a new rule to the stored set of packet processing rules,eliminating (e.g., deleting, erasing, and/or the like) rules from thestored set of packet processing rules, and/or the like. For example, thestored set of packet processing rules can include a QoS enforcementrule, and the control plane can be modify the QoS enforcement rule basedon a type of application associated with the flow. As an example, thecontrol plane can modify the QoS enforcement rule such that differentQoS classes are applied to different types of applications, such that aQoS class for a type of application is changed from a first QoS class toa second QoS class, and/or the like.

As shown in FIG. 1C, and by reference number 116, with the modified setof packet processing rules stored in the user plane, the UPF componentcan receive a packet of the flow of the one or more packets transmittedby the UE during the communications session. The packet may betransmitted by the UE, through the base station, and to the UPFcomponent in the core network.

As shown by reference number 118, the UPF component can apply themodified set of packet processing rules to the received packet. In someimplementations, the UPF component can also apply the set of mobilitymanagement rules, stored in the vUPF, to the received packet.

In some implementations, the UPF component can apply the modified set ofpacket processing rules to the received packet by adding information toa header of the received packet, removing information from the header ofthe received packet, changing information in the header of the receivedpacket, and/or the like. When applied to the received packet, themodified set of packet processing rules can define routing or forwardingof the received packet (e.g., define the route that the received packettakes to get to a destination of the received packet), QoS handling ofthe received packet (e.g., define a QoS class for the packet, which candefine the received packet's priority for network resources over otherpackets transmitted in the wireless communications system, define thereceived packet's priority for queueing or scheduling, and/or the like),packet inspection of the received packet (e.g., define whether shallowpacket inspection applies to the received packet, whether deep packetinspection applies to the received packet, and/or the like), packetmarking of the received packet (e.g., define how the received packet ismarked, whether the received packet is to be marked for IP tracebackpurposes, and/or the like), a modification to the packet marking of thereceived packet, a modification to a header of the received packet,packet buffering of the received packet (e.g., define whether and wherethe received packet is to be held in a buffer in various portions of thewireless telecommunications system), redirection of the received packet(e.g., whether the received packet is to be redirected to anotherdestination), traffic steering of the received packet (e.g., define aset of downstream service functions the received packet is to be steeredthrough, such as network security functions, parental control functions,traffic optimization functions, and/or the like), traffic usagereporting associated with the received packet (e.g., define whether thereceived packet is to be taken into account when tracking bandwidthusage for a sender and/or receiver), and/or the like.

As shown by reference number 120, the UPF component can forward thereceived packet, after applying the modified set of packet processingrules to the received packet, to the data network and/or other locationswithin the wireless communications system. In this way, the receivedpacket can be routed, inspected, processed, and/or the like, by otherentities in the wireless telecommunications network according to themodified set of packet processing rules applied to the received packet.In some implementations, the UPF component can update the modified setof packet processing rules. For example, the UPF component can updatethe modified set of packet processing rules based on QoS enforcementrules.

In this way, the UPF component can modify and apply a set of rules atrun-time as opposed to making the modifications offline and implementingthem in a software update to the core network. This improves performanceof the wireless communications system by allowing the UPF component toapply rules to packets in an optimized way.

As indicated above, FIGS. 1A-1C are provided merely as examples. Otherexamples are possible and can differ from what was described with regardto FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example functional architecture of a corenetwork 200 in which systems and/or methods, described herein, can beimplemented. For example, FIG. 2 can show an example architecture of a5G NG core network included in a 5G wireless telecommunications system.In some implementations, the example architecture can be implemented bya core network (e.g., a core network described with respect to FIG. 3)and/or one or more of devices (e.g., a device described with respect toFIG. 4). While the example architecture of core network 200 shown inFIG. 2 can be an example of a service-based architecture, in someimplementations, core network 200 can be implemented as areference-point architecture.

As shown in FIG. 2, core network 200 can include a number of functionalelements. The functional elements can include, for example, a NetworkSlice Selection Function (NSSF) 202, a Network Exposure Function (NEF)204, an Authentication Server Function (AUSF) 206, a Unified DataManagement (UDM) component 208, a PCF 210, an Application Function (AF)212, an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) 214, a SMF 216, aUPF 218, and/or the like. These functional elements can becommunicatively connected via a message bus 220. Each of the functionalelements shown in FIG. 2 is implemented on one or more devicesassociated with a wireless telecommunications system. In someimplementations, one or more of the functional elements can beimplemented on physical devices, such as an access point, a basestation, a gateway, and/or the like. In some implementations, one ormore of the functional elements can be implemented on a computing deviceof a cloud computing environment.

NSSF 202 can select network slice instances for UE's. By providingnetwork slicing, NSSF 202 allows an operator to deploy multiplesubstantially independent end-to-end networks potentially with the sameinfrastructure. In some implementations, each slice can be customizedfor different services. NEF 204 can support the exposure of capabilitiesand/or events in the wireless telecommunications system to help otherentities in the wireless telecommunications system discover networkservices.

AUSF 206 can act as an authentication server and support the process ofauthenticating UEs in the wireless telecommunications system. UDM 208can store subscriber data and profiles in the wirelesstelecommunications system. UDM 208 can be used for fixed access, mobileaccess, and/or the like, in core network 200. PCF 210 can provide apolicy framework that incorporates network slicing, roaming, packetprocessing, mobility management, and/or the like.

AF 212 can support application influence on traffic routing, access toNEF 204, policy control, and/or the like. AMF 214 can act as atermination point for Non Access Stratum (NAS) signaling, mobilitymanagement, and/or the like. SMF 216 can support the establishment,modification, and release of communications sessions in the wirelesstelecommunications system. For example, SMF 216 can configure trafficsteering policies at UPF 218, enforce UE IP address allocation andpolicies, and/or the like.

UPF 218 can serve as an anchor point for intra/interRadio AccessTechnology (RAT) mobility. UPF 218 can apply rules to packets, such asrules pertaining to packet routing, traffic reporting, handling userplane QoS, and/or the like. Message bus 220 represents a communicationstructure for communication among the functional elements. In otherwords, message bus 220 can permit communication between two or morefunctional elements.

The number and arrangement of functional elements shown in FIG. 2 areprovided as an example. In practice, there can be additional functionalelements, fewer functional elements, different functional elements, ordifferently arranged functional elements than those shown in FIG. 2.Furthermore, two or more functional elements shown in FIG. 2 can beimplemented within a single device, or a single functional element shownin FIG. 2 can be implemented as multiple, distributed devices.Additionally, or alternatively, a set of functional elements (e.g., oneor more functional elements) of core network 200 can perform one or morefunctions described as being performed by another set of functionalelements of core network 200.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example environment 300 in which systems,functional elements, and/or methods, described herein, can beimplemented. As shown in FIG. 3, environment 300 can include a UE 310,one or more base stations 320, a core network 330, and one or more datanetworks 340. Devices of environment 300 can interconnect via wiredconnections, wireless connections, or a combination of wired andwireless connections.

UE 310 can include one or more devices capable of communicating withbase station 320 and/or data network 340 (e.g., via core network 330).For example, UE 310 can include a wireless communications device, aradiotelephone, a personal communications system (PCS) terminal (e.g.,that can combine a cellular radiotelephone with data processing and datacommunications capabilities), a smart phone, a laptop computer, a tabletcomputer, a personal gaming system, a mobile hotspot device, a fixedwireless access device, a customer premises equipment, and/or a similardevice. UE 310 can be capable of communicating using uplink (e.g., UE310 to base station 320) communications, downlink (e.g., base station320 to UE 310) communications, and/or sidelink (e.g., UE-to-UE)communications. In some implementations, UE 310 can include amachine-type communication (MTC) UE, such as an evolved or enhanced MTC(eMTC) UE. In some implementations, UE 310 can include an Internet ofThings (IoT) UE, such as a narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) UE and/or the like.In some implementations, UE 310 can be capable of communicating usingmultiple RATs.

Base station 320 can include one or more devices capable ofcommunicating with UE 310 using a cellular RAT. For example, basestation 320 can include a base transceiver station, a radio basestation, a node B, an eNB, a gNB, a base station subsystem, a cellularsite, a cellular tower (e.g., a cell phone tower, a mobile phone tower,and/or the like), an access point, a transmit receive point (TRP), aradio access node, a macrocell base station, a microcell base station, apicocell base station, a femtocell base station, or a similar type ofdevice. Base station 320 can transfer traffic between UE 310 (e.g.,using a cellular RAT), other base stations 320 (e.g., using a wirelessinterface or a backhaul interface, such as a wired backhaul interface),and/or core network 330. Base station 320 can provide one or more cellsthat cover geographic areas. Some base stations 320 can be mobile basestations. Some base stations 320 can be capable of communicating usingmultiple RATs.

In some implementations, base station 320 can perform scheduling and/orresource management for UEs 310 covered by base station 320 (e.g., UEs310 covered by a cell provided by base station 320). In someimplementations, base stations 320 can be controlled or coordinated by anetwork controller, which can perform load balancing, network-levelconfiguration, and/or the like. The network controller can communicatewith base stations 320 via a wireless or wireline backhaul. In someimplementations, base station 320 can include a network controller, aself-organizing network (SON) module or component, or a similar moduleor component. In other words, a base station 320 can perform networkcontrol, scheduling, and/or network management functions (e.g., forother base stations 320 and/or for uplink, downlink, and/or sidelinkcommunications of UEs 310 covered by the base station 320). In someimplementations, base station 320 can include a central unit andmultiple distributed units. The central unit can coordinate accesscontrol and communication with regard to the multiple distributed units.The multiple distributed units can provide UEs 310 and/or other basestations 320 with access to data network 340 via core network 330.

Core network 330 can include various types of core networkarchitectures, such as a 5G NG Core (e.g., core network 200 of FIG. 2),a LTE EPC, and/or the like. In some implementations, core network 330can be implemented on physical devices, such as a gateway, a mobilitymanagement entity, and/or the like. In some implementations, thehardware and/or software implementing core network 330 can bevirtualized (e.g., through the use of network function virtualizationand/or software-defined networking), thereby allowing for the use ofcomposable infrastructure when implementing core network 330. In thisway, networking, storage, and compute resources can be allocated toimplement the functions of core network 330 (described in FIG. 2) in aflexible manner as opposed to relying on dedicated hardware and softwareto implement these functions.

Data network 340 can include one or more wired and/or wireless datanetworks. For example, data network 340 can include an IP MultimediaSubsystem (IMS), a public land mobile network (PLMN), a local areanetwork (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network(MAN), a private network such as a corporate intranet, an ad hocnetwork, the Internet, a fiber optic-based network, a cloud computingnetwork, a third party services network, an operator services network,and/or the like, and/or a combination of these or other types ofnetworks.

The number and arrangement of devices and networks shown in FIG. 3 areprovided as an example. In practice, there can be additional devicesand/or networks, fewer devices and/or networks, different devices and/ornetworks, or differently arranged devices and/or networks than thoseshown in FIG. 3. Furthermore, two or more devices shown in FIG. 3 can beimplemented within a single device, or a single device shown in FIG. 3can be implemented as multiple, distributed devices. Additionally, oralternatively, a set of devices (e.g., one or more devices) ofenvironment 300 can perform one or more functions described as beingperformed by another set of devices of environment 300.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of example components of a device 400. Device 400can correspond to, or can implement, one or more functional elements ofcore network 200, UE 310, base station 320, one or more functionalelements or devices of core network 330, and/or data network 340. Insome implementations, one or more functional elements of core network200, UE 310, base station 320, one or more functional elements ordevices of core network 330, and/or data network 340 can include one ormore devices 400 and/or one or more components of device 400. As shownin FIG. 4, device 400 can include a bus 410, a processor 420, a memory430, a storage component 440, an input component 450, an outputcomponent 460, and a communication interface 470.

Bus 410 includes a component that permits communication among thecomponents of device 400. Processor 420 is implemented in hardware,firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. Processor 420 is acentral processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), anaccelerated processing unit (APU), a microprocessor, a microcontroller,a digital signal processor (DSP), a field-programmable gate array(FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or anothertype of processing component. In some implementations, processor 420includes one or more processors capable of being programmed to perform afunction. Memory 430 includes a random access memory (RAM), a read onlymemory (ROM), and/or another type of dynamic or static storage device(e.g., a flash memory, a magnetic memory, and/or an optical memory) thatstores information and/or instructions for use by processor 420.

Storage component 440 stores information and/or software related to theoperation and use of device 400. For example, storage component 440 caninclude a hard disk (e.g., a magnetic disk, an optical disk, amagneto-optic disk, and/or a solid state disk), a compact disc (CD), adigital versatile disc (DVD), a floppy disk, a cartridge, a magnetictape, and/or another type of non-transitory computer-readable medium,along with a corresponding drive.

Input component 450 includes a component that permits device 400 toreceive information, such as via user input (e.g., a touch screendisplay, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a button, a switch, and/or amicrophone). Additionally, or alternatively, input component 450 caninclude a sensor for sensing information (e.g., a global positioningsystem (GPS) component, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and/or anactuator). Output component 460 includes a component that providesoutput information from device 400 (e.g., a display, a speaker, and/orone or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs)).

Communication interface 470 includes a transceiver-like component (e.g.,a transceiver and/or a separate receiver and transmitter) that enablesdevice 400 to communicate with other devices, such as via a wiredconnection, a wireless connection, or a combination of wired andwireless connections. Communication interface 470 can permit device 400to receive information from another device and/or provide information toanother device. For example, communication interface 470 can include anEthernet interface, an optical interface, a coaxial interface, aninfrared interface, a radio frequency (RF) interface, a universal serialbus (USB) interface, a wireless local area network interface, a cellularnetwork interface, and/or the like.

Device 400 can perform one or more processes described herein. Device400 can perform these processes based on processor 420 executingsoftware instructions stored by a non-transitory computer-readablemedium, such as memory 430 and/or storage component 440. Acomputer-readable medium is defined herein as a non-transitory memorydevice. A memory device includes memory space within a single physicalstorage device or memory space spread across multiple physical storagedevices.

Software instructions can be read into memory 430 and/or storagecomponent 440 from another computer-readable medium or from anotherdevice via communication interface 470. When executed, softwareinstructions stored in memory 430 and/or storage component 440 can causeprocessor 420 to perform one or more processes described herein.Additionally, or alternatively, hardwired circuitry can be used in placeof or in combination with software instructions to perform one or moreprocesses described herein. Thus, implementations described herein arenot limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry andsoftware.

The number and arrangement of components shown in FIG. 4 are provided asan example. In practice, device 400 can include additional components,fewer components, different components, or differently arrangedcomponents than those shown in FIG. 4. Additionally, or alternatively, aset of components (e.g., one or more components) of device 400 canperform one or more functions described as being performed by anotherset of components of device 400.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an example process 500 for a programmable userplane function. In some implementations, one or more process blocks ofFIG. 5 can be performed by a UPF component, which can be included in acore network (e.g., core network 200, core network 330, and/or the like)of a wireless telecommunications system. In some implementations, one ormore process blocks of FIG. 5 can be performed by another device or agroup of devices separate from or including the UPF component, such asother components in core network 330, UE 310, base station(s) 320, datanetwork 340, and/or the like.

As shown in FIG. 5, process 500 can include receiving, at a UPFcomponent, a set of rules for managing a communications session (block510). For example, the UPF component (e.g., using processor 420, memory430, storage component 440, communication interface 470, and/or thelike) can receive a set of rules for managing a communications session,as described above in connection with FIGS. 1A-1C. In someimplementations, the set of rules can include a set of mobilitymanagement rules and a set of packet processing rules.

As further shown in FIG. 5, process 500 can include, based on receivingthe set of rules at the UPF component, storing the set of mobilitymanagement rules at the UPF component, and storing the set of packetprocessing rules at a user plane of the UPF component (block 520). Forexample, the UPF component (e.g., using processor 420, memory 430,storage component 440, and/or the like) can, based on receiving the setof rules, store the set of mobility management rules at the UPFcomponent, and store the set of packet processing rules at a user planeof the UPF component, as described above in connection with FIGS. 1A-1C.

As further shown in FIG. 5, process 500 can include performing, at acontrol plane of the UPF component, an analysis of a flow of one or morepackets transmitted by a UE during the communications session (block530). For example, the UPF component (e.g., using processor 420, memory430, storage component 440, and/or the like) can perform, at a controlplane of the UPF component, an analysis of a flow of one or more packetstransmitted by a UE during the communications session, as describedabove in connection with FIGS. 1A-1C.

As further shown in FIG. 5, process 500 can include generating, atrun-time and based on the analysis of the flow of the one or morepackets, a modified set of packet processing rules from the stored setof packet processing rules (block 540). For example, the UPF component(e.g., using processor 420, memory 430, storage component 440, and/orthe like) can generate, at run-time and based on the analysis of theflow of the one or more packets, a modified set of packet processingrules from the stored set of packet processing rules, as described abovein connection with FIGS. 1A-1C.

As further shown in FIG. 5, process 500 can include storing the modifiedset of packet processing rules at the user plane of the UPF component(block 550). For example, the UPF component (e.g., using processor 420,memory 430, storage component 440, and/or the like) can store themodified set of packet processing rules at the user plane of the UPFcomponent, as described above in connection with FIGS. 1A-1C.

As further shown in FIG. 5, process 500 can include receiving, at theUPF component, a packet of the flow of the one or more packets (block560). For example, the UPF component (e.g., using processor 420, memory430, storage component 440, input component 450, output component 460,communication interface 470, and/or the like) can receive a packet ofthe flow of the one or more packets, as described above in connectionwith FIGS. 1A-1C.

As further shown in FIG. 5, process 500 can include applying themodified set of packet processing rules to the received packet (block570). For example, the UPF component (e.g., using processor 420, memory430, storage component 440, and/or the like) can apply the modified setof packet processing rules to the received packet, as described above inconnection with FIGS. 1A-1C.

As further shown in FIG. 5, process 500 can include forwarding thereceived packet after applying the modified set of packet processingrules to the received packet and updating the modified set of packetprocessing rules (block 580). For example, the UPF component (e.g.,using processor 420, memory 430, storage component 440, input component450, output component 460, communication interface 470, and/or the like)can forward the received packet after applying the modified set ofpacket processing rules to the received packet, as described above inconnection with FIGS. 1A-1C.

Process 500 can include additional implementations, such as any singleimplementation or any combination of implementations described belowand/or described with regard to any other process described herein.

In some implementations, receiving the set of rules can includereceiving the set of rules at the UPF component from a PCF component viaa SMF component. In some implementations, the stored set of packetprocessing rules can include at least one of a forwarding action rule, ausage reporting rule, a packet detection rule, or a QoS enforcementrule.

In some implementations, generating the modified set of packetprocessing rules can include generating the modified set of packetprocessing rules from the stored set of packet processing rules based onone or more properties of the flow of the one or more packets. In someimplementations, the one or more properties of the flow of the one ormore packets can identify at least one of a type of applicationassociated with the flow, a type of service associated with the flow, asource address associated with the flow, a destination addressassociated with the flow, a source port associated with the flow, adestination port associated with the flow, a protocol associated withthe flow, or a type of API associated with the flow.

In some implementations, the modified set of packet processing rules candefine at least one of routing or forwarding of the received packet,packet classification of the received packet, QoS handling of thereceived packet, packet inspection of the received packet, packetmarking of the received packet, a modification to the packet marking ofthe received packet, a modification to a header of the received packet,packet buffering of the received packet, redirection of the receivedpacket, traffic steering of the received packet, or traffic usagereporting of the received packet.

In some implementations, the UPF component can also apply the stored setof mobility management rules to the received packet.

Although FIG. 5 shows example blocks of process 500, in someimplementations, process 500 can include additional blocks, fewerblocks, different blocks, or differently arranged blocks than thosedepicted in FIG. 5. Additionally, or alternatively, two or more of theblocks of process 500 can be performed in parallel.

Some implementations, described herein, provide a wirelesstelecommunications system architecture capable of dynamically processingpackets through the use of UPF programming. In some implementations, thewireless telecommunications system can include a core network thatincludes a UPF having a control plane and a user plane. The UPF canreceive, at the UPF, a set of rules for managing a communicationssession. The received set of rules can include a set of mobilitymanagement rules and a set of packet processing rules. The UPF can storethe set of mobility management rules at the UPF and store the set ofpacket processing rules at the user plane. The UPF can perform, at thecontrol plane of the UPF, an analysis of a flow of one or more packetstransmitted during the communications session. The UPF can generate, atrun-time and based on the analysis of the flow, a modified set of packetprocessing rules from the stored set of packet processing rules, andstore the modified set of packet processing rules at the user plane. Inthis way, the UPF can receive, at the UPF, a packet of the flow of theone or more packets, apply the modified set of packet processing rulesto the received packet, and forward the received packet after applyingthe modified set of packet processing rules to the received packet. Thisallows the network operator to make rule changes at run-time (e.g., atthe start of a communications session, mid-session of a communicationssession, any time within a communications session, and/or the like) asopposed to making rule changes in a software update to the core networkbetween communications sessions and/or during network maintenance.Moreover, making modifications at run-time allows the UPF to apply setsof packet processing rules tailored to specific types of packets, whichcan result in lower network latency, more efficient packet routing,increased network reliability, increased quality of service, fasterencryption and decryption of packets, and the like.

The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description, but isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to theprecise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible inlight of the above disclosure or can be acquired from practice of theimplementations.

As used herein, the term component is intended to be broadly construedas hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and software.

To the extent the aforementioned embodiments collect, store, or employpersonal information provided by individuals, it should be understoodthat such information shall be used in accordance with all applicablelaws concerning protection of personal information. Additionally, thecollection, storage, and use of such information can be subject toconsent of the individual to such activity, for example, through wellknown “opt-in” or “opt-out” processes as can be appropriate for thesituation and type of information. Storage and use of personalinformation can be in an appropriately secure manner reflective of thetype of information, for example, through various encryption andanonymization techniques for particularly sensitive information.

It will be apparent that systems and/or methods, described herein, canbe implemented in different forms of hardware, firmware, or acombination of hardware and software. The actual specialized controlhardware or software code used to implement these systems and/or methodsis not limiting of the implementations. Thus, the operation and behaviorof the systems and/or methods were described herein without reference tospecific software code—it being understood that software and hardwarecan be designed to implement the systems and/or methods based on thedescription herein.

Even though particular combinations of features are recited in theclaims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are notintended to limit the disclosure of possible implementations. In fact,many of these features can be combined in ways not specifically recitedin the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. Although eachdependent claim listed below can directly depend on only one claim, thedisclosure of possible implementations includes each dependent claim incombination with every other claim in the claim set.

No element, act, or instruction used herein should be construed ascritical or essential unless explicitly described as such. Also, as usedherein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or moreitems, and can be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Furthermore,as used herein, the term “set” is intended to include one or more items(e.g., related items, unrelated items, a combination of related andunrelated items, and/or the like), and can be used interchangeably with“one or more.” Where only one item is intended, the term “one” orsimilar language is used. Also, as used herein, the terms “has,” “have,”“having,” and/or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further,the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on”unless explicitly stated otherwise.

1. A device, comprising: one or more memory devices; and one or moreprocessors, communicatively connected to the one or more memory devices,to: receive, at a user plane function (UPF) of the device, a set ofrules for managing a communications session, the set of rules includinga set of mobility management rules and a set of packet processing rules;based on receiving the set of rules at the UPF: store the set ofmobility management rules at the UPF, and store the set of packetprocessing rules at a user plane of the UPF; perform, at a control planeof the UPF, an analysis of a flow of one or more packets transmittedduring the communications session; generate, at the control plane duringrun-time and based on the analysis of the flow of the one or morepackets, a modified set of packet processing rules from the stored setof packet processing rules by at least one of: adding a rule to thestored set of packet processing rules, eliminating a rule from thestored set of packet processing rules, or changing a rule in the storedset of packet processing rules; store the modified set of packetprocessing rules at the user plane of the UPF; receive, at the UPF, apacket of the flow of the one or more packets; apply the modified set ofpacket processing rules to the received packet; and forward the receivedpacket after applying the modified set of packet processing rules to thereceived packet and update the modified set of packet processing rules.2. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors, whenreceiving the set of rules, are to: receive the set of rules from apolicy control function (PCF) via a session management function (SMF).3. The device of claim 1, wherein the stored set of packet processingrules includes at least one of: a forwarding action rule, a usagereporting rule, a packet detection rule, or a quality of service (QoS)enforcement rule.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the modified set ofpacket processing rules defines at least one of: routing or forwardingof the received packet, packet classification of the received packet,quality of service (QoS) handling of the received packet, packetinspection of the received packet, packet marking of the receivedpacket, a modification to the packet marking of the received packet, amodification to a header of the received packet, packet buffering of thereceived packet, redirection of the received packet, traffic steering ofthe received packet, or traffic usage reporting of the received packet.5. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors, whengenerating the modified set of packet processing rules, are to: generatethe modified set of packet processing rules based on one or moreproperties of the flow of the one or more packets.
 6. The device ofclaim 5, wherein the one or more properties of the flow identify atleast one of: a type of application associated with the flow, a type ofservice associated with the flow, a source address associated with theflow, a destination address associated with the flow, a source portassociated with the flow, a destination port associated with the flow, aprotocol associated with the flow, or a type of application programminginterface (API) associated with the flow.
 7. The device of claim 1,wherein the one or more processors are further to: apply the stored setof mobility management rules to the received packet.
 8. A non-transitorycomputer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructionscomprising: one or more instructions that, when executed by one or moreprocessors, cause the one or more processors to: receive, at a userplane function (UPF), a set of rules for managing a communicationssession the set of rules including a set of mobility management rulesand a set of packet processing rules; based on receiving the set ofrules at the UPF: store the set of mobility management rules at the UPF;and store the set of packet processing rules at a user plane of the UPF;perform, at a control plane of the UPF, an analysis of a flow of one ormore packets transmitted during the communications session; generate, atthe control plane during run-time and based on the analysis of the flowof the one or more packets, a modified set of packet processing rulesfrom the stored set of packet processing rules by at least one of:adding a rule to the stored set of packet processing rules, eliminatingrules from the stored set of packet processing rules, or changing a rulein the stored set of packet processing rules; store the modified set ofpacket processing rules at the user plane of the UPF; receive, at theUPF, a packet of the flow of the one or more packets; apply the modifiedset of packet processing rules to the received packet; and forward thereceived packet after applying the modified set of packet processingrules to the received packet and update the modified set of packetprocessing rules.
 9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium ofclaim 8, wherein the one or more instructions, that cause the one ormore processor to receive the set of rules, cause the one or moreprocessors to: receive the set of rules from a policy control function(PCF) via a session management function (SMF).
 10. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the stored set of packetprocessing rules includes at least one of: a forwarding action rule, ausage reporting rule, a packet detection rule, or a quality of service(QoS) enforcement rule.
 11. The non-transitory computer-readable mediumof claim 8, wherein the modified set of packet processing rules definesat least one of: routing or forwarding of the received packet, packetclassification of the received packet, quality of service (QoS) handlingof the received packet, packet inspection of the received packet, packetmarking of the received packet, a modification to the packet marking ofthe received packet, a modification to a header of the received packet,packet buffering of the received packet, redirection of the receivedpacket, traffic steering of the received packet, or traffic usagereporting of the received packet.
 12. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the one or moreinstructions, that cause the one or more processors to generate themodified set of packet processing rules, cause the one or moreprocessors to: generate the modified set of packet processing rulesbased on one or more properties of the flow of the one or more packets.13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein theone or more properties of the flow identify at least one of: a type ofapplication associated with the flow, a type of service associated withthe flow, a source address associated with the flow, a destinationaddress associated with the flow, a source port associated with theflow, a destination port associated with the flow, a protocol associatedwith the flow, or a type of application programming interface (API)associated with the flow.
 14. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium of claim 8, wherein the one or more instructions, when executedby the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processorsto: apply the stored set of mobility management rules to the receivedpacket.
 15. A method, comprising: receiving, by a user plane function(UPF), a set of rules for managing a communications session, the set ofrules including a set of mobility management rules and a set of packetprocessing rules; based on receiving the set of rules at the UPF:storing, by the UPF, the set of mobility management rules at the UPF;and storing, by the UPF, the set of packet processing rules at a userplane of the UPF; performing, by the UPF at a control plane of the UPF,an analysis of a flow of one or more packets transmitted during thecommunications session; generating, by the UPF, at the control planeduring run-time, and based on the analysis of the flow of the one ormore packets, a modified set of packet processing rules from the storedset of packet processing rules by at least one of: adding a rule to thestored set of packet processing rules, eliminating a rule from thestored set of packet processing rules, or changing a rule in the storedset of packet processing rules; storing, by the UPF, the modified set ofpacket processing rules at the user plane of the UPF; receiving, by theUPF, a packet of the flow of the one or more packets; applying, by theUPF, the modified set of packet processing rules to the received packet;and forwarding, by the UPF, the received packet after applying themodified set of packet processing rules to the received packet andupdating the modified set of packet processing rules.
 16. The method ofclaim 15, wherein receiving the set of rules comprises: receiving theset of rules from a policy control function (PCF) via a sessionmanagement function (SMF).
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein thestored set of packet processing rules includes at least one of: aforwarding action rule, a usage reporting rule, a packet detection rule,or a quality of service (QoS) enforcement rule.
 18. The method of claim15, wherein the modified set of packet processing rules defines at leastone of: routing or forwarding of the received packet, packetclassification of the received packet, quality of service (QoS) handlingof the received packet, packet inspection of the received packet, packetmarking of the received packet, a modification to the packet marking ofthe received packet, a modification to a header of the received packet,packet buffering of the received packet, redirection of the receivedpacket, traffic steering of the received packet, or traffic usagereporting of the received packet.
 19. The method of claim 15, whereingenerating the modified set of packet processing rules comprises:generating the modified set of packet processing rules based on one ormore properties of the flow of the one or more packets.
 20. The methodof claim 19, wherein the one or more properties of the flow identify atleast one of: a type of application associated with the flow, a type ofservice associated with the flow, a source address associated with theflow, a destination address associated with the flow, a source portassociated with the flow, a destination port associated with the flow, aprotocol associated with the flow, or a type of application programminginterface (API) associated with the flow.